Firebrand is a historical drama and an adaptation of the 2013 novel Queen's Gambit by Elizabeth Fremantle, which explores a revisionist history of the final period of Henry VIII King of England’s rule through the experience of the queen Katherine Parr (Alicia Vikander).

 

Firebrand plunges into the intense dynamics of life under the tyrannical rule of Henry VIII, offering a profound retelling of the survival of his sixth and final wife, Katherine Parr. The film vividly captures Katherine's unwavering strength throughout her prime, downfall, and ultimate survival amidst her husband's tyranny. She emerges as a pioneering force of unstoppable female power in a chaotic era, using her strong voice to steer history in a new direction. 

 

Directed by Brazilian director Karim Aïnouz, Firebrand features a duo of excellent performances by Alicia Vikander and Jude Law as The Queen and King of England. Aïnouz brings a powerful and brutish portrayal of Henry VIII out of Law: his Henry is a paranoid, tyrannical King, driven by lust, appetite and ego. Vikander’s Katherine is a Queen who is kind, intelligent and compassionate - someone at odds in character with the King, yet bound by circumstance and station to him. Her attempt to live her life as she thinks best leads to her consorting with politically dangerous people and making a decision that sets her firmly in the target of Bishop Stephen Gardiner and ultimately that of the King himself.

 

While many recent films explore themes of female empowerment, Firebrand stands out for its raw portrayal of the ruthless, unfeeling, and volatile tyrant and his tragic end. Jude Law, made unrecognisable in the role, excels in bringing this abhorred character to life.

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Jude Law’s portrayal is so effective and compelling that it almost detracts from the film’s central narrative around Katherine Parr, subsuming it in Henry’s tyrannical and egotistical behaviours and also the ruthless political machinations of Bishop Stephen Gardiner (a deliciously scheming Simon Russell Beale).

 

However, as captivating as those elements of the film are, Vikander makes it impossible to diminish the plight of her Katherine Parr as she imbues in her character an infectious righteousness that makes the film all the more satisfying when this is rewarded.

 

Ultimately, Firebrand not only interprets  a historical narrative but also serves as a powerful reminder that it is human kindness and free will, not power, that endures and prevails. 

 

Firebrand is a compelling and interesting reinterpretation of the history of the relationship between Henry VIII and Katherine Parr, King and Queen of England; made so by the duo of excellent performances from Alicia Vikander and Jude Law.